City briefed on 2026 point-in-time count: council hears drop in unsheltered numbers but service gaps remain

Amy Cox, the city’s chief housing and homelessness response officer, briefed council on the 2026 point-in-time (PIT) count, the Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and the statewide HMIS report on July 27. Cox said HUD requires the PIT and that the local count took place on 01/25/2026.

Cox reported the 2026 PIT counted 1,413 people in the Continuum of Care region (El Paso County/Colorado Springs), a 19% decrease from 1,745 in 2025. She said the most pronounced change was a drop in the unsheltered population — from 522 to 308 — and noted an increase in people enrolled in transitional housing programs. Cox warned the PIT is a one-night snapshot influenced by weather, volunteer turnout and methodology and recommended using it together with longitudinal HMIS and other measures.

Council members questioned whether the 2025–2026 changes reflected methodology, weather or real service gains. Cox said overnight temperatures on the night of the 2026 count fell below 0°F with wind chills near -26°F and that such conditions can affect whether people are found outdoors or in shelters. She also described broader system work: the city is serving as collaborative applicant and working with Pikes Peak United Way on coordinated entry, and the city is developing a supportive housing plan to address an identified need of roughly 2,000 additional supportive-housing units.

Cox highlighted programmatic shifts tied to federal priorities: HUD guidance has changed the allowable share of permanent-supportive-housing funding in some competitive streams, and emergency housing vouchers issued after COVID are expiring, prompting local reallocations (including a HOME-ARP substantial amendment and tenant-based rental assistance) to bridge transitions.

She closed by emphasizing prevention, diversion and case management as strategies to reduce new entries into homelessness and urged continued regional collaboration and real-time data improvements.